Travel Information - Things to check before you go

NOTE: A Schengen VISA is required for travel to the European Union countries prior to departure from the USA. This is an Electronic Access Control requirement for entry to the European continent.

Travel Documents:

Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of an emergency or if your documents get lost or stolen. Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home and carry the second copy with you separately from the originals. It is always a great idea to let at least one person know exactly where you will be staying and how to contact you in an emergency. Check your passport expiration date, as some destinations require that your passport is valid for six months after the return date of your trip. Copies to include:

  • Itinerary
  • Hotel confirmation
  • Airline ticket
  • Driver’s license
  • Passport ID page
  • CDC COVID Vaccination Record
  • Foreign visa (if applicable)
  • Credit cards brought on the trip

Register With the Embassy:

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Visit the step.state.gov website to register and the travel.state.gov website to check on travel warnings or alerts for the countries you are visiting.

Electrical Device Support:

In Europe, there are different electrical standards than the USA. European electrical appliances generally operate on 220 Volts, 50 Hz power, and use a different electrical plug. Most US electrical devices, such as phones, computers, iPads, and other battery-powered appliances will operate or recharge on variable voltage, from 100-240V (check your device to see if it is variable voltage capable), so all they need is an electrical adapter plug. Certain older electrical devices that are not variable voltage capable, need a step-down voltage converter. Large department stores or electronic shops have combined step down converters and plug adapters that also have one or more USB ports for phones and tablets for about $20-25 (photo below). Electrical devices that are cyclic, such as plug-in clocks and hair dryers will run about 80% of normal speed, due to the 50 Hz cyclic electrical speed of European electricity. It's best to avoid bringing these types of devices to Europe, and most hotels have clocks and hairdryers in your room for customer use. You can also use the clock and alarm function in your cell phone.

power adapter

Mail:

Contact the Post Office to hold your mail, and Newspaper to stop daily or weekend delivery.

Cell Phone:

You may opt to get an international data/text/calling plan while traveling in Europe, to reduce fees and charges to your Phone. Typically, an international dialing plan can be put in place for less than $10 per month, but per-minute charges can be pretty expensive, usually running about $1.99/min. European data plans are fairly expensive, so using local Hotel WIFI is the best option for Internet access. T-Mobile offers free International service, including texts, so this makes staying in contact fairly easy, although the network coverage is often guaranteed at 2G and 3G speeds, not 5G, so the cellular network can be very slow, and some phone apps may not work properly. Be sure to call your cellular provider before you leave to verify that your phone and calling plan is appropriate for your destination and calling needs.

Bank/Credit Cards:

Contact your bank/credit card companies to let them know that you are traveling. Give them your travel dates and the countries you’ll be visiting, including layover cities/countries, that way your credit card account will not be locked/frozen for unusual/fraudulent activity. Make sure your credit card will work in the country you’re visiting as many foreign banks have switched to the more secure chip-and-PIN technology. There are several credit card companies that offer cards with no fees for international transactions.

Gratuities:

Many travelers on cruises or tours find it helpful to set aside funds in advance of travel for gratuities so you aren’t searching for money on the last day.  See guidelines for Tipping in the FAQ Section.

International Entrance/Exit Fees:

Some countries require travelers to pay a fee in order to enter or leave the country. These fees are not included in the price of your airline ticket and can range from $25 to $200. Check the country’s website or travel.state.gov for the current fee (as applicable).

Medications:

Pack enough medication to last your entire trip, including some extra in case you are unexpectedly delayed. Be sure to carry your medications in their original labeled containers, and pack them in your carry-on bag.

Packing:

Always check the TSA  website,  tsa.gov/traveler-information for the latest information including:

• Acceptable Identification at the Security Checkpoint

• Liquid Rules: 3-1-1 for Carry-ons

• Permitted and Prohibited Items

Airline baggage restrictions vary from carrier to carrier, so check with the airline for details, as well as specific guidelines regarding additional fees you may incur for excess or overweight luggage. If you check baggage, be sure to pack an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag just in case. Be cautious and carry a minimum number of valuables. When traveling internationally, you may need adapters or converters for electrical devices, so check the country’s website for electricity details before you go (See the Electrical Device Support section and photo above). If you plan to bring back bottled beer (this is, after all, a beer tour), you might bring a small roll of bubble wrap in your backpack and some packing tape to wrap and protect your precious cargo in checked baggage, and upon return to the USA you can put dirty clothes in your backpack to make room for bottles. Lastly, if you bring a small portable weight scale that has a hook you can use to lift/weigh your checked suitcase to make sure you're not overweight, you'll avoid having to repack baggage when checking your luggage.

Local Currency:

Facilities in Europe do not accept US Dollars for payment. Local currency exchange rates are on www.xe.com You can order small amounts of local currency 2-4 weeks in advance of overseas departure if you desire, but if you can wait, there are bank ATMs near most tour hotels, where you'll get the best exchange rates. Do not use airport currency exchange kiosks, as their rates are usually 15-20% lower than banks, and they charge high fees, making the exchange rate even lower.

Returning to the USA:

The pandemic changed the return flight to the USA process, requiring a negative rapid test prior to boarding the aircraft - but this requirement was rescinded in June 2022. We'll discuss the current guidelines well before our Stateside departure. Make sure that your returning flight to the USA first entry point has at least 2-3 hours of layover time to allow sufficient time for US Customs and baggage transfer to your final destination.  Many international airports have automated US Customs kiosks that speed up the process. Easy navigating returning airports are Atlanta, Houston, Denver, and Washington Dulles. Travelers entering at Chicago O'Hare may experience long delays, since many international flights from Europe and Asia arrive there at the same time, and US Customs lines can be up to 2,000-3,000 people long, and take 2½ to 3 hours to complete, with the possibility of missing your connecting flight(s) to your home destination. Your returning airport choice will likely be dictated by the airline you choose and the overall cost.

Language:

There are many different languages and dialects spoken throughout Europe. Anything you can do to learn something about the local language and culture before you depart the USA can make for a much better tour experience and helps us be better US Ambassadors as we travel.

Here are some language tips for traveling in Germany:

German is not an overly difficult language since some words sound similar to ones in English. It always helps to understand the pronunciation. When you see a word with letters ie (pronounced E) or ei (pronounced I), this could help your hosts understand what you’re saying. It's also a good idea to download the Google Translate (or any other translation) app to your smart phone. You might want to brush up on a few common German words and phrases you’ll use often during the trip:

1. Entschüldigung Sie – pronounced Ent-Shoe-L-Dee-Gung See –As in saying Pardon Me. Entschüldigung Sie Bitte=Excuse Me Please - You'll use this phrase A LOT!

2. Wo Ist Die WC? – pronounced Vo Ist Dee Vay Say – this is, Where is the Water Closet or Toilet? Also, Wo Ist Die Toiletten?

3. Ein Bier Bitte – pronounced Eye-n Beer Bittuh – One Beer Please, or ask for Zwei (Zv-eye) Bier, or Drei (Dry) Bier=2 or 3 Beers

4. Danke Schön – pronounced Dunk-uh Shern = Thanks. Not pronounced Dunk-uh Shane like the Wayne Newton song

5. Auf Wiedersehn – pronounced Owf Vee-Der-Say-n = Goodbye or farewell.

6. Links = Left, and Recht (pronounced resht) = Right

7. Geöffnet (pronounced Ge-Erf-Net) is Open, and Geschlossen (pronounced Ge-Shlow-Sen) is Closed

8. If all else fails – Sprechen Sie Englisch? – pronounced Sprecken See English, or Do you speak English?

In general, if you try your best to ask for something in German, your host will more than likely meet you more than halfway, with as much English as they can speak. If your first question is Sprechen Sie Englisch, your host may not try very hard to meet you halfway. It always helps to learn numbers from 1 to 100, since numbers above 20 and under 100 are said with the last number first, so 31 is pronounced Ein und Dreizig (Eye-n und Dryt-zig) or One and Thirty.

No one expects you to become fluent in a foreign language overnight, so no matter what the situation, I’ll do my best to assist with translations and requests while we’re on tour.